An evaluation of alkali and acid treatments for chitosan extraction from fungi

Abstract

Chitosan extractions of mycelia from Absidia coerulea ATCC 14076 were examined using hot alkaline and acid treatments. Alkaline treatments were carried out at 95°C and 121°C using sodium hydroxide with varying extraction times. Acid treatments were carried out at 95°C using hydrochloric, formic and acetic acids with various extraction times. The highest yields of chitosan were obtained with alkaline extraction at 121°C for 30 min and hydrochloric acid extraction at 95°C for 12 h. The effects on the degree of acetylation and viscosity of the chitosan of various treatments were also examined.